Carlos Slim Helú (b. 1940) is a Mexican business magnate, investor, and philanthropist who built one of the largest and most diversified business empires in Latin America. [1] Through holdings in telecommunications, finance, retail, construction, and mining, he became one of the wealthiest individuals in the world and was ranked by Forbes as the richest person globally for several years in the early 2010s. [2]
Early life and education
Carlos Slim Helú was born on 28 January 1940 in Mexico City to parents of Lebanese descent. [1] His father, a merchant who had emigrated from Lebanon, ran a successful retail business and taught his children principles of finance and bookkeeping from an early age. Slim studied civil engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where he also taught algebra and linear programming while completing his degree. [3]
Business career
Slim began investing in stocks and businesses as a young man and steadily assembled a portfolio of companies across many industries. In 1990 he consolidated his interests under Grupo Carso, and during the privatization of Mexico's state telephone company he led a consortium that acquired Teléfonos de México (Telmex). [1] This telecommunications base later expanded into América Móvil, which grew into one of the largest mobile operators in Latin America. His conglomerate came to include interests in banking, insurance, retail, construction, mining, and infrastructure. [3]
Philanthropy and interests
Slim has directed much of his fortune toward philanthropic and cultural projects, primarily through foundations bearing his family name that support education, health, and employment initiatives in Mexico and across Latin America. [1] A noted art collector, he founded the Museo Soumaya in Mexico City, named in memory of his late wife, to house his extensive collection of European and Mexican art and make it freely accessible to the public.
Legacy
Widely regarded as one of the most influential business figures of his era, Slim topped the Forbes global wealth ranking for several consecutive years in the early 2010s. [2] His dominance of Mexican telecommunications has also drawn regulatory scrutiny and debate over market competition. He remains among the world's richest people and a central figure in Mexico's economy. [2]
